RainyDay

In all the years I've been going to Yoshi's at its various locations I've never noticed that! Double Ditto. I am a regular at Yoshi's either in the club or in the restaurant., or both. I went to see Buster Williams on Monday and Orrin Keepnews was there, as he often is, and the guy with the long white ponytail and his wife were there, also regulars. I see familiar faces in there every time I go. Too bad PBW doesn't post here because it would be interesting to get his opinion since he works there. I rarely go on the weekend so I don't know what that's like. I would assume there are more jazz tourists on the weekend. I hear people trashing Yoshi's often and I can never get to the reason why. I can't tell you how many jazz artists have stood on that stage and proclaimed their love for the club: Terence Blanchard, McCoy and others. The owners and staff treat the talent very well and it's a nice clean, well managed venue. I didn't make it to many shows last year but I'm already gearing up for 2007. I joke that it is my second home and that I should have Yoshi's taking payroll deductions from me. I feel blessed to have a world class jazz club just a couple miles from my home.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_4979063 New stamp honors First Lady of Song By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, Associated Press Writer Article Last Updated: 01/09/2007 01:40:29 PM PST Ella Fitzgerald — the First Lady of Song — is being honored on a new postage stamp. The 39-cent stamp will be released Wednesday at ceremonies at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, and will be on sale across the country. It's the 30th stamp in the agency's Black Heritage series. "She would be very honored, very pleased and a little surprised," said Ray Brown Jr., Fitzgerald's son. "She didn't go through life expecting all the accolades that she got. She was just happy to do her thing and be the best that she could be." People who don't know about her will see the stamp and think: "What makes this person special? And perhaps find out about the person and about the music," he added. Phoebe Jacobs, executive vice president of The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation and a longtime friend of Fitzgerald, described the singer as "a very private lady, very humble." Recalling meeting Fitzgerald for coffee at an Automat in 1954, Jacobs said: "She was a star right then, but she was not comfortable thinking of herself as a celebrity." After Fitzgerald confided in 1961 that she had never had a birthday party, Jacobs was able to gather a star-studded collection of people for the special event. The party was a secret, so Fitzgerald was told to dress up because there was a television interview. "When the lights came on she took her pocket book and hit me on the shoulder," Jacobs recalled. "She was like a little kid, she was so happy." Fitzgerald was a baseball fan and the guests included her favorite player, Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle. They embraced and traded autographs. Fitzgerald's appearance on a stamp comes less than a year after Mantle was featured among baseball sluggers. Fitzgerald was never one to stand on formality, Jacobs said. Once the two pulled on raincoats over their pajamas, piled into Fitzgerald's Rolls Royce and went to breakfast at a McDonalds. In addition to a passion for baseball, Fitzgerald loved watching soap operas and collected cookbooks, Jacobs said. While she didn't actually cook much, she felt you could learn a lot about people through what they ate. Born in Newport News, Va., in 1917, Ella Jane Fitzgerald moved with her mother to Yonkers, N. Y. as a youngster and began to sing and dance from an early age. She began winning talent competitions in the early 1930s and was hired to sing with Chick Webb's band. They scored a No. 1 hit in 1938 with "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," a novelty song Fitzgerald co-wrote with Van Alexander based on a child's rope-skipping rhyme. She later became famous as a scat singer, vocalizing nonsense syllables, and performed with most of the great musicians of the time. She recorded the song books of such composers as Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Rogers and Hart and Johnny Mercer. Over the years, Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards and many other honors, including the National Medal of Arts, presented to her in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan. She was one of five artists awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 1979. In 1989, the Society of Singers created an award for lifetime achievement, called it the "Ella," and made her its first recipient. In 2005, Jazz at Lincoln Center inducted Fitzgerald into its Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame. Fitzgerald, who died in 1996, also is also remembered for her "Is it live or is it Memorex?" commercials of the early 1970s in which she performed a high note to break a wine glass. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last edited by RainyDay : January-10th-2007 at 12:28 PM.

This story just breaks my heart. Remember: It was his footprints in the snow that led the helicopter to the car where the mom and kids were. The helicopter his family hired to find them. Had ne not left the car, they might not have ever found any of them at all. I know you want to be critical, initially I was too. But now, it's just sad. The guys is a hero in my book. He was desperate to save his family and he did the best he could. Ironically, there was a lodge just a mile from where they get stuck. It was closed for the winter but stocked with provisions. Rescuers kept checking to see if they'd show up. This was a Bay Area family so there has been much coverage here and interviews with friends and co-workers. It's just too sad. He sounded like a wonderful person. In today's SF Chron, Jon Carroll's column critiques computer maps and how useless they are. The road they took would have been given by mapquest or yahoo maps even though it is not passable in winter.

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...s&highlite= ...and one post was about Sly Stone on the Grammys and the other was about McCoy Tyner. The conclusion a normal person would make is that I just don't post here very much. This thread was seven pages long when I got here and I'm sure it will last another seven. Now I remember why I don't come here much. Carry on.

Ise sorry not to ask first, boss, before opening my mouf. I'll just jes shuffle on down the road now and let y'all enjoy your talk about race without meddlin' from the ignorant colored folk. Typical bullshit reply when someone has simply noted that over and over again you only come out when "racism" is at issue. You've got nothing else to say here, ever. Why, yessuh. Ise just trying to keep yoursef from gettin' embarrassed 'cos you didn't answer what I said, jes got mad 'cos I showed up. I got nuffni' to say you want to hear, that's all. How many music things do I have to talk about 'fore I can say something about this here?

Ise sorry not to ask first, boss, before opening my mouf. I'll just jes shuffle on down the road now and let y'all enjoy your talk about race without meddlin' from the ignorant colored folk.

So whose show should he have gone on, Arsenio? Magic Johnson? Wayne Brady? I guess maybe Oprah, or Tyra. How about America's Black Forum, or the new Black Enterprise weekly show, or Tony Brown's Journal, or Al Sharpton's weekly on TV One, or on Live at the Apollo, or tape a segment for BET, or go on black radio... No information has been presented that indicates Richards was either drunk or high. And if his rant was part of his act, why didn't he say so on Letterman? How many times does a white person get to call a black person a nigger before he qualifies as a racist? Twice, three times, four, five...? Is there a magic number? Here's a guy who also calls women cunts, and rails at Jews. Richards is hardly a misunderstood victim. The hecklers might be publicity-seeking assholes but the black people in the audience who were not disrespectful (you know, the Good Negroes), didn't deserve to be insulted. Neither did anyone else in the audience who was insulted.

Well, he must be having a ball with all the attention he is receiving here and at JC because the squealing has been long and loud.

I thought John Legend's number was greatly overproduced. It's supposed to be Legend singing accompanied with his own piano playing. The video added strings and a harmonica at the end of the song, which gave it a very tender quality to an already very lovely song. The version on the Grammys was whack. It reminded of 1960's film soundtracks of cubular bands attempting to play rock and roll and sounding like Beyond the Vally of the Squares. It changed the way he sang the song. It sounded like a soulful Liberace. It smelled it was so bad, and I happen to love that song very much. I'm glad he won for best new artist. He is indeed in the real deal. The whole show was a Las Vegas Revue starting with Madonna in a leotard and ending with Kanye West doing a bizarro channeling of Spike Lee's School Daze. The best parts of the Grammys was the very beginning with Gorillaz and the very ending with Alvin Toussaint's jam session. The jam was ragged but it had the most spontaneous feel of the entire evening. Speaking of channeling, what about Christina Aguilera channeling Ethel Merman with a song that is supposed to be soft and heartfelt and not a marching band song? Aguilera was backed up by arguable the best band she'll ever have behind her and she sounded like she was singing "There's No Business Like Show Business." And I like Aguilera's voice but she obviously needs to work on how to use it. Ethel would have been proud. Herbie should have his head examined for letting her sing like a fishwife. I have no comment about Sly. There are no words to describe such weirdery.

McCoy does a two-week stint every year at Yoshi's in January. One week is with a trio and the other week is with a quintet or quartet. This year I saw him with Terence Blanchard and it was quite fine. Charnett Moffett played one week, I believe with Blanchard. Ravi Coltrane was supposed to play but was sick that night I went so Blanchard had a chance to really stretch. Moffett played with him the previous year also. The trio was with Billy Cobham and we all talked about that for weeks, it was just incredible. I enjoy McCoy's playing very much and he seems to be playing much stronger in the past couple years or so. It's interesting to see the different shades of his performing depending on who he is playing with. Hope you enjoy him.

The ability to crack wise about matters in a way intended to shock people isn't necessarily humorous. I've seen her stand up (or bits of it--I find her commentary grating ), I've seen some of her series about Hollywood on the Trio Channel and I found it all not terribly interesting. She was on some show discussing her g-word controversy (in referring to Asians) from the Letterman show (I think) and how everybody missed the point and what I remembered was how self involved and clueless she was. But as long as folks think she's a babe, her talent, or lack therof, is immaterial. Madonna has built a major empire from being one of the worst singers to ever earn millions from singing. But she looks maaahvelous.

I'm really sorry to hear of this. You have probably turned over every rock, etc. but have you considered going to a research hospital or something? Like Johns Hopkins? Is there someplace that specializes in the unknown? I hope this all works out for you.

Because he is obsessed with what I do and say. It's pretty creepy, really.

I think Jon Stewart summed it up nicely on the Daily Show: The people who are complaining about others playing the blame game, are, uh, usually to blame. If Clinton were President there would be a special prosecutor appointed already and the articles of impeachment would be waiting in the wings. I'm so FUCKING sick of Bushie apologists accusing others of playing politics because that is EXACTLY what the Bushie's are doing now, trying to cover for their incompetent, lying backsides. FEMA is the primary coordinator for national disasters in the US. Deal with it. I'm reading articles about how FEMA workers turned away from New Orleans truckloads of water and other necessities. I'm reading about firefighters who are not being used by FEMA for search and rescue. Is this shit deliberate? Is the idea to wait out as many people as possible in hopes they all die? I received a conspiracy theory e-mail from a relative over the weekend to that effect and I told her she was nuts. Now, I'm not so sure. This kind of incompetence can't be by accident, can it? On the other hand, it's hard to imagine this tribe of Bushie's able to coordinate a joint run to the bathroom without someone tripping over his (or her) dick. And speaking of dicks, isn't it considered a gift of public funds to pay public officials for services not rendered? In other words, just what in the name of god does Dick Cheney do for a living in exchange for his US paycheck?

Jezz, I forgot about China. There's a billion and half folks who better relocate too. Too dangerous there.

In the past week or so, there was a lengthy story on some news show or other (couldn't find a link for CBS Sunday Morning) about a coastal area somewhere in the southeastern portion of the US that has been rebuilt multiple times in recent years in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes. The area has had a lot of hurricane activity over the years and yet people still stay there and the federal government keeps picking up the tab to rebuilt these neighborhoods. The homes that were rebuilt were quite expensive homes in a somewhat exclusive area. The cost of rebuilding to date is in the billions. The story ended with something to the effect of should these areas be developed and your tax dollars at work. No outcry over that but so much griping about rebuilding N.O. and the irresponsibililty of those who choose to live there. It isn't news that cities are built on waterways because of commerce. That's a no-brainer. Too bad that N.O. is in a bowl but that happens to be where it is. The idea that the city shouldn't be rebuilt because of one bunch of incompetents is interesting, not to mention ridiculous. I live in the SF Bay Area. There are two major fault lines that run through here. A rupture on either fault line is predicted to cause catastrophic damage and loss of life. In addition to the major faults, there are countless smaller faults and new ones are cropping up all the time. Where do folks suggest all 6.5 million of us should go before the big one hits? Japan IS a fault line. But it's a funny thing about those wacky Japanese folks. They have decided that it is worth the effort and the expense to design their development projects in such a way to mitigate the effects of earthquake. They have alarm systems for tsunamis. In other words, the Japanese aren't a bunch of judgemental twinks who have decided that anyone who stays in the country pays their money and takes their chances because the bureaucrats are a bunch of cheap bastards who have no interest in protecting the health and safety of the populace. No, that would be the well-trod territory of US bureacrats. Let's see: Tornadoes all over the midwest and southeast. Those folks should move. Blizzards in the northeast. Those folks should move. Seattle is on a fault line and next door to an active volcano. Those folks should move. Same with Portland and Mt. Hood (and Mt. St. Helens). Mt. Etna. Dummies who live near that thing. And Venice is sinking. Idiots there too. Floods in India and Bangladesh. Earthquates in Mexico, Central America, well, actually, all over Latin America. Fools, all of them for living there. The Middle East is earthquake central. I guess we could all squeeze our fat behinds up in the Irish countryside. Nothing much happening up there, natural disaster-wise.

Does anyone know anything about Hammond? I have a friend I haven't heard from since Sunday. I'm sure (please) she is all right but does anyone know what is going on there? Was there extensive damage? I only found one article online. Thanks.

Thank you for staying this. Thank you ten times. I don't know why Americans need to blame poor people for being poor. I didn't grow up poor but my father did during the depression. Have folks never heard of the working poor? People who hold two, sometimes three low paying jobs? They work a hell of a lot harder than most middle class folks and still live day to day. They don't own cars, they depend on public transit. And from what I hear, public transit in NO is pretty poor. So just how were these people supposed to get out? Walk? With kids, food, water, diapers, medicine, etc, strapped to their backs? Just walk out? And look at the terrible shape people are in who went to the Super Dome as a last resort. That was supposed to be a safe haven. If you need to blame anyone, there is PLENTY OF FUCKING BLAME to go around. All the hospitals except one was built below sea level. Brilliant, yes? Every elected official representing this area knew this was a catastrophe waiting to happen. They knew it under Bush and they knew it under Clinton. Pull your partisan heads out of your butts and be furious with everyone because EVERYONE failed these poor people. Including the middle class folks who lived there and didn't DEMAND that something be done about the levees. As someone said, what has happened is ALL about politics and no one should escape blame. New Orleans has been a "bowl" for decades.

Reading this is unbearable. How much more incomptent can the governement be? Jesus H. Christ! These people survived the storm just to starve to death and die from dehydration?

Yeah, it's hard to defend looting pawn shops (that have guns) and jewelry stores. It's nice to see that even in the middle of a horror show the idea of free stuff still trumps survival. How very American. I imagine that the lawlessness is going to be a real nightmare. Maybe looting a store for a gun is not such a bad idea.

Thank you for posting the blog site. The issues raised are really important and should have everyone asking whether their community is in any way prepared for a major disaster. I am devastated by this catastrophe. I am wishing I was younger and more nimble so I could volunteer to help. I can donate the money but I wish I could DO something. My heart aches for all those people who have lost loved ones, who no longer have jobs, a home, or a community. I can't even comprehend what that must be like. The site below details the relief coordination efforts and also lists organizations to which you can contribute. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9115520/

I'll break out the smelling salts.

I am loath to get into a conversation here about popular music, but as someone who basically despises 99.9% of most rap music, I like this guy. He needs to lose the b-word and n-word references for my tastes but I like the idea of someone setting the bar higher for rap music (although when you consider how far in the gutter most rap is, that may not be saying a whole lot). There was an article in yesterday's LA Times about West and he is on the cover of this week's TIME magazine. If nothing else, it's nice to see someone who actually has some facility with language rapping. It's been an ongoing irony that rappers, people who live by spoke word, have such limited vocabularies, literally and figuratively. And it's refreshing to see/hear someone with a degree of sophistication rapping. I saw an interview with him on MTV2 where he spoke directly to the camera and asked rappers to lose their homophobic ways. West is definitely coming from a different place. I don't own any of his work but I may invest in some. I like some of his work, "All Falls Down," and he rapped on a Dilated Peeples song that I liked a lot. He brought us John Legend (reviled on this board) but who has been well received by people across the musical spectrum. I like the political focus of the song about diamonds featuring Shirly Bassy's "Diamonds Are Forever." The Gold Digger song is clever. I like him and I hope he does have a positive impact on rap. Suspect he will be around awhile in any event because he produces as well as raps and he has a good ear. His music has some texture (strings in a rap song?) and complexity. It's still rap but he's taken it to another level.

Indeed. Especially when you consider that Chris was all but thrown out of JC by Lois earlier this year after crawling back under a pseudonym; and after his big, dramatic, delete all posts exit from JC last year. And yet he still lurks over there so he can fill in folks here about what I'm doing there. Then over at AAJ he had a piece of his backside removed by Mike who told him to take his act and leave if he continued to engage in yet another feud with someone else he can't get along with. This a good example why one would want to be anonymous online. I'd hate to have Chris stalking me in real life in addition to following me all over cyber space so he can harrass me.

Yep. Had Jack Johnson screaming loud yesterday afternoon for at least two CD repeats. Followed it up with a splash of Bitches Brew. Another one is Freddie Hubbard's First Light, the title track. My favorite song to start the day. ← Some of that box set material just needs to be timber shaking; it's so well recorded too you can wallow in the barrage of sound. Another Hub one: Sraight Life ← I have Straight Life right here. It's part of my "office" collection.